POLICY CHANGES
State Licensure Policy
Programs have an obligation to inform current and/or potential students whether the specific specialty area(s) qualify for state licensure and/or certification in the state(s) where their courses are offered. This obligation includes referring students to appropriate websites, documents, or courses for information about qualifying for credentials in states outside of where their courses are offered.
Policy Regarding Meeting New Standards
Programs that are currently accredited under the 2001, 2009, or 2016 Standards must comply with 2016 Standard 1.J by July 2, 2020. The move to 60 credit hours applies to students entering programs after July 2020.
Policy on Counseling Program Identity
Programs applying for CACREP accreditation must be clearly identifiable as counseling programs. Programs should demonstrate compliance to a counseling identity in the following areas at the time of application for accreditation:
- Core Curriculum (course prefixes, course titles, course content) – Standards 2.F.1-8
- Specialty Area (e.g., SC, CMHC) descriptions and general content
- Descriptions of program and its specialty area(s) in program materials (e.g., website, student handbooks, catalogs)
- Core faculty identification with the counseling profession – Standard 1.X
- Student identification with the counseling profession – Standard 2.C
- Faculty supervisor qualifications – Standard 3.N
GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE 2016 FACULTY STANDARDS
A document has been developed that clarifies and 2016 CACREP Standards that relate to core faculty issues and provides examples to help programs determine faculty status. View document >>
GLOSSARY CHANGES
Glossary Definition Change
Professional Counseling Organizations: Organizations (i.e., ACA and its divisions and/or branches, Chi Sigma Iota, and NBC) whose primary mission is to advocate for and to provide development, support, and/or recognition for professional counselors across the counselor education specialties
NEW AND REVISED GUIDING STATEMENTS
Guiding Statement on CACREP 2016 Standard 1.O
Standard 1.O states the following:
Counselor education programs have and follow a policy for student retention, remediation, and dismissal from the program consistent with institutional due process policies and with the counseling profession’s ethical codes and standards of practice.
Standard 1.O applies to students enrolled in the counseling program. The intent of Standard I.O is that programs adopt and adhere to the current American Counseling Association’s (ACA) and/or its divisions’ codes of ethics. The counseling program must provide the knowledge and skills that enable students to fully comply with the ACA Code of Ethics.
If a student engages in behavior(s) that violate these ethical codes while in the program, the programs is expected to follow its due process policies in determining the basis for remediation and/or dismissal from the program.
Guiding Statement for 2016 Standard 2.F.5.m
CACREP Standard 2.F.5.m states the following:
F. The eight common core areas represent the foundational knowledge required of all entry-level counselor education graduates. Therefore, counselor education programs must document where each of the lettered standards listed below is covered in the curriculum.
5. COUNSELING AND HELPING RELATIONSHIPS
m. crisis intervention, trauma-informed, and community-based strategies, such as Psychological First Aid
Standard 2 F.5 is embedded within one of CACREP’s required eight core curricular areas – Counseling and Helping Relationships. To document this specific requirement within Standard 2F programs must show how every student has an opportunity to gain knowledge and/or skills in crisis intervention, trauma-informed, and community-based strategies. While the standard provides Psychological First Aid as an example of one approach for working with children, adolescents, adults and families in the aftermath of disasters and other forms of trauma, CACREP recognizes other well developed programs exist such as those offered through the NBCC’s Mental Health Facilitator training or the American Red Cross’s Disaster Mental Health training.
Guiding Statement on 2016 Standard 1.X
Standard 1.X states the following:
Core counselor education program faculty identify with the counseling profession (1) through sustained memberships in professional counseling organizations, (2) through the maintenance of certifications and/or licenses related to their counseling specialty area(s), and (3) by showing evidence of sustained (a) professional development and renewal activities related to counseling, (b) professional service and advocacy in counseling, and (c) research and scholarly activity in counseling commensurate with their faculty role.
Standard 1.X requires the program’s core faculty to demonstrate sustained engagement in activities of the counseling profession and its professional organizations. Maintaining memberships, holding credentials, and engaging in service activities with organizations such as the American Counseling Association and/or its divisions, Chi Sigma Iota (both at the chapter level and national level), and the National Board for Certified Counselors and Affiliates are considered clear indicators of professional counselor identity and can be used to demonstrate involvement in the counseling profession and its professional organizations. Each of these organizations provides unique opportunities for development/renewal, research, scholarship, service and advocacy that can be used to document how program faculty members meet this standard. CACREP acknowledges that this list of organizations is not exhaustive; however, these organizations are cited as clear examples of CACREP’s expectations for involvement with the counseling profession. |